“It feels like being in Alice in Wonderland to arrive in a country with a budget surplus”. So observed the only non-Irish panellist at KPMG’s breakfast briefing the morning after Budget 2027. It brings home the fortunately unusual position Ireland is in compared to most of its peer countries. Sluggish growth in much of the rich world, combined with debt burdens built up over decades, means that budgeting is a constant battle for most governments. The modern voter has high expectations of what the state will do for them. Precious few these days want to do much for their state…

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